a matrix of villas compose MVRDV's 'ziel' complex in montevideo

‘ziel’ by MVRDV and monoblock to take shape in montevideo

Comprising a loosely-stacked series of individual homes, ‘Ziel’ by MVRDV unfolds as an open, porous, and stone-clad residential building proposal where light and air permeate it and create plenty of open and green spaces for residents of all ages to enjoy and share. Designed for developer IXOU, jointly with executive architect Monoblock, ‘Ziel’ is MVRDV’s first project in Uruguay, located just a block from the ocean on the southern tip of Montevideo. Thanks to the deep plot and the blind walls of the neighboring buildings, the design uses a courtyard to ensure that every apartment gets adequate daylight and extends the greenery of the nearby Villa Biarritz park throughout the structure, from the courtyard to the private terraces and shared patios on various levels.

all renders © MVRDV

a countryside-inspired design with shifting floorplans

With this abundant outdoor green space, ‘Ziel’ is envisioned as a stack of country villas embedded in the dense city. Each apartment has a generous balcony or loggia, and the shifting floorplans mean that the 40 homes include a total of ten unique layouts – mostly three bedrooms, as well as one two-bedroom unit on the first floor and four large, four-bedroom corner apartments on the upper levels. ‘With our design, we wanted to show that you can have the spaciousness and nature of the countryside on the tenth floor in the middle of the city,’ shares MVRDV partner Frans de Witte.

On the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth floors, MVRDV and Monoblock (see more here) incorporated patios shared by all building residents, each creating a two-story open space connecting the street and the courtyard. Filled with plants, these patios introduce light and fresh air to the deep courtyard and visually enrich the spaces – both for tenants in the inner apartments, who get a view beyond the square, and for pedestrians who get a glimpse of the inside of ‘Ziel’.

‘Ziel’ by MVRDV and Monoblock

While sharing a common visual language, these ‘sky gardens’ will each have a unique character and program, providing users with spaces for different kinds of activities and unobstructed views of the ocean to the East. Residents will also benefit from a wide array of amenities — from a lounge and dining room on the roof, where a shared terrace with lush landscaping and a swimming pool can also be enjoyed, to a gym and spa in the lower levels. Located prominently on the ground floor corner, a restaurant further contributes to the neighborhood’s vibrancy.

This stack of individual villas will take shape as a series of stone blocks in different but complementary colors, creating a harmonious palette of warm, earthy tones. The four types of stone used in the façade help differentiate each apartment as its independent entity, while bronze window frames help tie the exterior finishes together.

an open and porous building with shifting floorplans

expanding biodiversity through a porous and open design

Lastly, the proposal targets LEED-Platinum certification. The many overhangs limit solar gain to reduce energy use, while the structure’s porosity means that apartments can be easily cooled using natural ventilation. Solar panels on the roof contribute to the energy that the building does use. Meanwhile, the greenery throughout ‘Ziel’ by MVRDV and Monoblock helps improve the biodiversity of the neighborhood, and a water capture and retention system, also feeding into the irrigation for the greenery, reduces the building’s impact on the local environment.